Defining Evil

 

As an epistemological moderate, I assert that evil can be meaningfully and clearly defined. It is knowable, recognizable and can be and should justly be opposed and punished on earth as it will be in heaven.

 

On the other hand, the concept is a bit murky in that evil, though fell, is a supernatural force or entity, so describing and defining with anything supernatural is a bit problematic for humans with our linited human intelligence, perception, concepts and language.

 

That being said, we can define evil well enough to work against it efficiently and successfully.

 

One danger with true believers, both secular and atheistic, or religious and fervent, is that anyone that competes with them or disagrees with them is labeled evil automatically, and terrible things can be done to opponents, rationalized by their alleged wicked state, when, in fact, many of them are without sin, or only have sinned modestly. Even if they are wicked, vicious, terrorizing attacking or butchering them is still not condoned.

 

When we are fair, objective, accurate and modest in speech, conservative about the application of adjectives to someone’s character and behavior, we may call them evil if they are, but we always want to be modest and hesitant about throwing inaccurate, unwarranted accusations and judgmental slurs at anyone. We could be wrong. We should have some strong available evidence of their wrongdoing before we label them evil. Labeling someone as evil when they are not blameworthy can be used to punish them without cause.